Little Hollywood

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All stories and photographs are copyrighted by Janine Gates, Little Hollywood Media.

About The Name

People ask me all the time about the name of my blog, Little Hollywood. Little Hollywood was the name of the shantytown down along the shores of what is now Capitol Lake, a place where some lively characters of Olympia lived. It was our "Hooverville" from the 1920s through the early 1950s. Well, as we know, our area has a lot of interesting, talented, educated characters, and the point of this blog is to help shine the light on some of our "stars" that might not ordinarily be heard through corporate media outlets. So, the name has a double meaning. And since it's my blog, it's Janine's Little Hollywood. Enjoy!

About Me

Thank you for visiting my blog! As a photographer, I also have a website, http://www.littlehollywoodphotography.com. I love Olympia and meet a lot of people who tell me great stories. I love to learn, and hope this blog of local news will be just another source of information for you. Please don't be shy to leave comments. I have set it up so the comments are private first, until I publish them, so if you don't want your comment published, just tell me so. And oh yeah, I'd appreciate it if corporate media or other news outlets did not steal my stories. Please ask if you'd like to reprint my story in your publication or at least give credit where credit is due if you read it here first. Associated Press standards consider blogs a legitimate news source and should be treated as such. Thank you!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

by Janine Unsoeldwww.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.comThe official theme of Capital City Pride 2013 was "Advancing Our Pride - Moving Forward Together." As it turns out, it really was about people working together to make it happen, from beginning to end. The 23 year old celebration in Olympia lost a couple key volunteers this year, but gained dozens more after organizers put out a community-wide request for help.Sunny weather with rainbows galore graced the parade, youth talent show, drag queen entertainment and dozens of supportive GLBTQ non-profit organization booths in Sylvester Park today.

Above: Romeo Jay Jacinto of Olympia, right, was the winner of Pride Idol 2013, singing Macklemore's "Same Love" with Christina Brewer. Later, he said it was his first time on a big stage, and that he sang the song for GLBTQ allies.

At the Mpowerment Olympia group table, Daniel Bumbarger, 25, handed out safe sex kits and materials. He is upset about the cuts to HIV/AIDS prevention funding in Thurston County. Mpowerment Olympia volunteers organize and participate in many positive social activities and hand out about 1,000 safe sex kits per month at community events, colleges, clubs, bars, and clinics."No funding outside of the funding bubbles (of King, Pierce and Snohomish County) is ridiculous...I mean, I understand why they are doing it, but people to people connections are far more useful than any advertising campaign, particularly with youth. We've been so oversaturated with that - it doesn't affect us anymore."Bumbarger has been involved with Mpowerment Olympia since November of 2011 and appreciates the group. "I think I get as much out of it as I put into it. It's the social stuff, yeah, but it also gives us the skills to do our own programs, and trains us to be leaders in our own lives...I came here from central Pennsylvania. This is my first group of friends - people aren't afraid of being themselves here."Noel Coley, 20, agreed. Coley has been involved with Mpowerment Olympia for a year."I like helping educate men. I feel like a leader. I honestly don't know how it's all going to go - it's going to be pretty crazy until we find some (funding) stabilization. I feel a real sense of community with Mpowerment, a sense of belonging, and I'm helping the community too." Both young men were present later in the evening, volunteering at the Red Ribbon Prevention Gayla held at the Urban Onion Ballroom. The event was held to raise funds for HIV prevention services in Thurston County. A silent auction, a raffle, and a dessert dash all raised a significant amount of money. Organizers were thrilled. "The support has been breathtaking...All of you have changed the future of prevention. After July 1st, there will be HIV testing!" said Justin Taylor, Mpowerment Olympia coordinator and HIV/AIDS prevention coordinator for the Pierce County AIDS Foundation. Taylor received a leadership award at the event for his four years of dedication to the Mpowerment Olympia group. "He built this program from the ground up," said Matthew Shrader, chair of the Mpowerment Advisory Committee.

Above: In honor of the late Tumwater City Councilmember Ed Stanley, Capital City Pride Parade Marshal Roger Cummings, left, presents Matthew Shrader, Chair of the Mpowerment Advisory Committee, a check for $1000 to the Pierce County AIDS Foundation to go toward local HIV/AIDS prevention activities.

Community donations will be needed on an ongoing basis to continue free HIV/AIDS testing and other HIV/AIDS prevention activities. For more information, go to www.Mpoweroly.org or www.piercecountyaids.org/prevention. Mpowerment Olympia is located at 317 4th Avenue East, 4th floor, Olympia, (360) 352-2375. No-cost, rapid and confidential HIV testing is on Fridays 12:00 p.m. - 5 p.m. and by appointment.